Meet Alfie
Introducing Rowan Hall's founder
Wife, mother, business owner, Knoxville interior designer–these are only a handful of the titles carried by Rowan Hall Interiors’ founder, Alfie Rowan. At a young age, she had a love for beautiful things and unique finds, and that passion has turned into a career and successful business. From selling antiques and home decor to running a full service interior design firm, she’s never lost her stylish eye and passion for selecting beautiful pieces that will bring any room to life. Today we’re introducing the woman who started it all and how she made Rowan Hall Interiors into what it is today.
Balancing it All
While she feels most alive on the slopes of Colorado, Knoxville, Tennessee has always been home to Alfie. Growing up in the Rocky Hill area and graduating from the University of Tennessee, her home in Farragut is where she loves to be, always bringing home inspiration from her travels. While she always had an affinity for beautiful, well-designed homes, she didn’t lean into that love until later in life. She was on a pre-med track in college, graduated with a degree in biology, and married her Husband, Mitch, all before having two boys and fully leaning into motherhood. Her career as a business woman and interior designer began as a hobby she could foster as she took care of her kids. Today, it’s a full time job for her and her team.
Rowan Hall Interiors began more than 20 years ago as a shop in Southern Market where Alfie and her long-time best friend sold home decor, antiques and other unique finds. As her kids became more independent, Alfie was able to dedicate more time growing this business she loved. There was a desire from her loyal customers to hire her for interior design work, so she began taking on one or two small jobs at a time, and her business grew steadily from there.
An Eye for Design
Alfie’s natural talent grew through her studies, but for the most part, putting her abilities to practice is where the interior designer we know today came to life. She attributes her keen eye to genetics. Her aunt was a talented interior designer who was self-taught and began her own business at 40, and she spent many days surrounded by beautiful things with her antique arts dealer grandmother. She supposes that while some have a knack for numbers or computers, she thrives in selecting beautiful pieces to bring out a room’s full potential.
While her eye for style can’t be taught, her decades of knowledge did not come without lots of hard work and dedication to be constantly learning. Going to market, meeting with industry professionals and never being afraid to ask questions have made her the knowledgeable interior designer she is today. She insists that she learns something new every day, and she doesn’t think she will ever stop learning. Whether she is inquiring about Parisian versus Turkish rugs when meeting with her rug dealer, spending time with her interior design friends at Market, or taking a master class on short-term vacation rentals, Alfie is committed to expanding her expertise to bring her clients the best of the best.
Her favorite part about working with our wonderful clients is adapting to styles that will make them feel comfortable in their home. While Rowan Hall certainly has a signature look, a truly talented designer like Alfie can take any clients’ desires and personal style and make a beautiful space out of that. In general, Alfie’s design preference is fairly transitional in style. She loves traditional elements and antique pieces, but prefers the comfort and practicality of more modern design. Transitional design lends itself well to that, but you will typically find fun elements that make a space stand out. Whether it’s a unique piece of art or a bold light fixture, Alfie loves to select pieces that make our clients light up when they walk into a room.
While her perfect day would be spent on the slopes with her husband, Mitch, and sons, Austin and Jackson, Alfie has spent the last two decades building Rowan Hall, so she can spend her days doing what she loves. She feels blessed to have a job that allows her to be creative, bringing beautiful spaces to clients she loves. She brings her personality, design expertise and decades of business experience to every job. From selecting the perfect rug to leading a team of design professionals, Alfie never settles and gives her all to every task. Her clients love her, and you will too! Schedule a discovery call today or take the plunge and book an initial consultation. We can’t wait to hear from you and make your home dreams come true!